Theatre, BFA

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Admission to the BFA Program:

All students admitted to the BFA major must first be accepted as a BA or BS theatre major. Admission to the BFA program is by audition, interview, and/or resumé-portfolio presentation. Admission to a BFA track is not guaranteed and is determined by audition and/or the faculty’s assessment of the student’s fitness for the BFA program. Students not accepted into a BFA sequence may reapply once. Students may only pursue one BFA concentration at a timeStudents may apply for admission to the BFA no earlier than the end of their sophomore year. (Transfer students should wait until they have been in residence at least two full terms prior to auditioning.) Students must consult their program advisor prior to applying for admission to the BFA program. For more information about audition/interview guidelines and dates, please contact the Theatre office.

Requirements for the Theatre Major

1.

Fulfill baccalaureate degree requirements.

2.

All full-time theatre majors are required to participate in the program’s productions by enrolling in Theatre Practice each term until they have earned the maximum credits available for:

TA 255 - Theatre Practice 2-4 credits
(For either TA 255 or TA 455, REQUIRED to take one of each: 1) Performance/Run Crew; 2) sets; 3) Costumes; 4) Electronics)
TA 455 - Theatre Practice 2-4 credits

3.

Continuation as a major in any of the degree programs is contingent upon a yearly evaluation. The criteria used to determine whether students shall be retained or dropped from the major include:

a.

satisfactory fulfillment of the Theatre Practice requirement;

b.

a minimum cumulative 3.00 GPA overall and 3.00 in the major; and

c.

successful completion of the following courses by the end of the sophomore year:

TA 166 - Theatre Foundations 3 credits
TA 167 - Script Analysis 4 credits
TA 169 - Elements of Design 3 credits
TA 230 - Theatre in Western Culture I 4 credits
TA 231 - Theatre in Western Culture II 4 credits
TA 232 - Theatre in Western Culture III 4 credits
TA 281 - Acting I: Beginning Acting 4 credits
or
TA 270 - Acting Aesthetics 4 credits
or
TA 246 - Introduction to Acting 4 credits
and two of the following courses in areas outside the student’s BFA concentration:
TA 240 - Stagecraft 4 credits
TA 242 - Theatre Sound 4 credits
TA 245 - Stage Lighting 4 credits
TA 249 - Costume Fundamentals 4 credits
TA 333 - Stage Properties 4 credits
TA 343 - Scene Painting 4 credits

Additional requirements of the BFA major include:

Adjunct or paraprofessional requirements and theatre major requirements must be evaluated by the advisor and approved by the chair.

Select one design class from the following:

TA 220 - Scene Design I: An Introduction 4 credits
TA 262 - Costume Design I 4 credits
TA 442 - Theatre Sound Design 4 credits
TA 445 - Lighting Design: Creating the Aesthetic 4 credits

Completion of all of the following:

TA 255 - Theatre Practice 2-4 credits *
TA 403 - Thesis 1 to 9 credits
TA 455 - Theatre Practice 2-4 credits *
12 Theatre elective credits in area of concentration

*Theatre Practice

* For the BFA, TA 455 may be taken for 6 credits minimum and 12 credits maximum. All full-time theatre majors are required to register for at least 2 credits in Theatre Practice (TA 255 or 455) each term until they reach the maximum allowable credits. Students may be excused from Theater Practice for a term after consulting with their faculty advisor in the term prior to the requested absence. The SOU Theatre Handbook lists typical situations that will likely result in a successful absence excuse petition. Students earning 5 credits in two consecutive terms may, with advisor consultation, be excused for a term from mandatory Theater Practice enrollment.

BFA Summary

BFA students may concentrate in one of four areas of concentration: Performance, Design, Technology, and Management/Direction. Admission to the Performance BFA is by audition only. All other areas require a portfolio review by four or more faculty members. The Design track includes studies in scenic, costume, lighting, and sound design. Technology encompasses stagecraft, technical direction, costume construction, scenic painting, lighting and sound engineering. Management and Direction provides coursework in Stage Management, Directing, dramaturgy, and arts administration. Students must take five courses (some of which may come from core courses) in their area of concentration. The SOU Theater Handbook lists courses that will meet the requirements of each concentration.

BFA students are required to maintain a 3.0 GPA for all work in theatre and a 3.0 GPA for all University work. They must also meet the graduation requirements of the University.

Coursework leading to the BFA in theatre is strictly monitored. Once admitted to the BFA program, students are required to plan a program of coursework that follows program guidelines. This coursework is planned in consultation with the program advisor and is subject to faculty approval. Published guidelines, as well as requirements for developing an area of concentration and for the successful proposal and completion of a BFA thesis are available in the theatre office.

Retention in the BFA program is dependent on academic performance and continued development of talent and acquisition of skills as evaluated by faculty assessment. Although it is possible to complete all requirements within four years, a successful course of study may take longer, since graduation depends as much on demonstrated proficiency as on credits.